Seal-lock.



Patented Sept. 23, I902.

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lilnrrnio diaries Parnnr rricni JULIUS PAUL KERNBAUM, OF SOUTH YARRA, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

SEAL-LOCK.

APEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,777, dated September 23, 1902.

Application filed January 6, 1902- Serial No. 88,633. (No model.)

or destination-indicating label, which is in this invention combined therewith. A seal of weak material is inserted over one end of the label-plate or the like and must be torn by a cutter or cutters before the lock can be opened. The seal material may be such or be so printed on either or both sides that once destroyed it could not be duplicated by an unauthorized person. It would be locked in by and be visible through a hinged door, and it would be necessary to tear or cut this material in order to open the door. It would also be necessary to open the door to move the label (which word throughout this specification also includes an unlabeled plate,) and it would be necessary to move the label to open the bag or release the strap thereof or to apply a key to a keyhole if one were provided accessible when the label or a like plate had been moved. Ordinarily no key would be used. It is, however, not broadly novel to use a seal or cutters therefor or a glass lid over the same. The label is made so that an address on either side can be outward, and for mail-bags each side of the label would ordinarily beimpressed or the like with the destination of the bag. Thus upon one side might be stated the destination London and upon the other side Paris. Aftor the locked bag exhibiting the destination London had reached that city and the bag had been opened the label could be replaced to show Paris and the bag locked and used to carry mail to Paris.

The invention provides a safeguard against illicit tampering with mails during transit; but in analogous cases it is also useful. In the device I usually adopt there are two main plates, the upper and lower, the upper plate carrying the label and a hinged door, and the lower being secured to the outside of the bag, inside of which may be another plate or the like for more secure holding. One end of the label is secured by slipping it into .a groove or under a projection, which is preferably on the lower plate, while the other end or head of the label has a neck entering a slot in a sealboX on the upper plate, into which bOX said head passes. The bottom of this box is slotted or cut out, and one or more cutters pro ject up through the slot or opening and also through the correspondingly-slotted head of the label, while a catch on the aforesaid door projects down through slots in label and sealboX. This catchI usually makeintegral with a rim secured to the door bya lug and screw or rivet or the like. At the underside of the seal-box is a spring-pin, which engages with the catch aforesaid when the said door is closed, preventingitfrom opening. There is, however, mounted on the lower plate under the seal-box bottom a cutter-carrier, which has a handle projecting outside through an arrow space between the upper and the lower plate. This carrier is fitted with a spring, which is so compressed or wound up when the said handle is operated-say forwardlyto destroy the seal by means of the cutter or cutters that it will throw back the handle when the latter is released. The said forward motion not only moves the cutter or cutters, destroying the seal, which is placed upon the head of the label under the door, the seal being impaled upon the cutter-point immediately the door is closed, but the said motion also brings a tooth or projection which is provided on the carrier into contact with the pin, which holds the said door-catch, andby pushing the pin away from said catch it allows the said door to spring open. This opening thus takes place only when the seal aforesaid has been torn or injured by the cutter or cutters. Any metallic or other substance which can be ruptured or out, including celluloid, tinfoil, and many others, may be used as the seal, being hold fast between the label-head and the closed door. On the door being opened the seal can be removed and the label also. Then the strap which fastens around the neck of the bag can be loosened and then the bag can be opened. One end of the strap is secured to the bag permanently or in some cases adjustably. The other end has holes, into one of which a projection from the lower plate passes, and then the label being put in place fits over the top of said projection. Among minor details I sometimes use a weak spring to keep the hinged door normally resting in a nearly-closed position.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate this invention, Figure 1 shows the lower plate above referred to in plan view with the cutter-carrier in place, also part of a strap. Fig. 2is an end view of Fig. l, a part being broken away for better illustration. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing also part of a bag and (in unfastened position) a backingplate with fastening means therefor, as screws. Fig. at shows the upper plate aforesaid in plan view; Fig. 5, the same in side elevation; Fig. 6, a plan view of part of the other side of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the label. Fig. 8 shows a plan ofthe door detached. Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view thereof. Fig. 10 is a representation in plan view of the lock complete, but without the bag. Fig. 11 is a side view of Fig. 10, showing also the bag-strap in section. Fig. 12 shows the seal in its place as seen in plan view prior to the closing of the door upon the same; and Fig. 13 exhibits the parts in Fig. 12, but showing the injury done to the seal by the cutters in the act of unlocking, also showing the aperture made by the catch of the door.

Referring to the lettering upon the drawings, a represents the label; b, the seal, of weak material; 0, the cutters. (In the drawings two cutters are shown, the direction of their movement in cutting being shown by arrows, Figs. 1, l2, and 13.)

d is the door; (2, Fig. 11, that part of the bag-strap which is perforated or the like so that a pin, as 4, on the lower plate q may pass through a suitable perforation in strap 6. f shows the other end of the strap, which is usually permanently (though it may be adjustably, if desired) fastened to the lower plate and the bag, the neck of said bag 00 being tightly compressed between the part of the strap between the end f and the part 6. The label has one or more slots g, through which a cutter or cutters may project in order to also project through the seal, which is laid upon the label.

It represents apertures in the label to allow the.catch if of the door d to pass through the label whichever side of the label is uppermost.

t'is a perforation at the other end of the label, whereby said end is fitted upon the post 4 to help keep the label immovable when locked down and more secure against tampering. The label has a neck j, adapted to fit an opening or slot in a seal-box having a rim m, forming part of the upper main plate aforesaid, lc. This plate has means, as screw-holes Z, whereby it is fastened down, as by screws,

from above to studs (see Fig. 1) on the lower plate q, and the seal-box base is apertured (or slottedas,forexample,at ncorresponding to the slots 9) to enable the cutters to project therethrough. 0 is an aperture corresponding to h, and 19 shows the various parts o is a pin which locks or releases the doorcatch, as the case may be, and, as seen in Fig. 6, it is fastened at the end remote from aperture 0 to the under side of the upper plate is. The middle part of pin 1; passes through a slot 5, across the top of a preferably hollow post 6 upon the lower plate q, the slot being wider than the pin to allow it suflicient play. When the pin is bent away from the catch 25, the pressure against the side of the slot 5 will bring the pin back straight again.

to shows the carrier for the cutters, which are marked 0 and project up from the base of the said carrier. The carrier may, as shown, have a circular base with a rim around the edge and a central aperture which fits over the'post 6, so that the carrier can be revolved with the post as a center, the handle of the carrier being marked 1,and 2 showing a spring, one end of which is connected to the post 6 and the other end to a cutter or other part of the carrier, so that when the cutter has been carried around in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 1 it Will increase the tension of the spring, and then on the release of the handle 1 tlfe spring will bring back the cutter (which word should be taken in the claims to apply also to the plural) to the normal position, as shown in said figure. It is a tooth 3 upon the rim of the cutter-carrier that engages with the pine to disengage the latter from the catch t. A backing-plate y, Fig. 3, may be within the bag so and secured, as by screws 2, to plate g.

It will be evident now that the label-head has means forsupporting a seal and for allowing it to be cut by a cutter passing through the label; that the door has means for lock ing within a seal-box a seal and the head of a label; that the seal-box has an apertured base through which pass cutter and door-catch; that below the seal-box is a cutter-carrier having means for moving and for retracting the cutter and the pin of the door-catch; that the lower plate aforesaid has means for fastening it to the bag, strap, seal-box, and label and for boxing in certain parts, and that the label is reversible by reason of the construction of its head.

The relative positions, sizes, and proportions of various parts may be varied and IIO States, is-

minor details of the construction above described maybe modified or in some cases omitted while preserving nevertheless features fundamental to this invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United 1. In a seal-lock,in combination with a baseplate supporting a movable plate having a cutter, a seal-box adapted to be secured on said base-plate and slotted to permit said outter to protrude into the seal box, whereby a seal may be placed in said seal-box and be impaled on said cutter, a lid for said seal-box having means for engaging said seal to hold it stationary, locking means for holding said lid closed and means carried bysaid movable plate for disengaging said locking means.

2. In a seal-lock,in combination with a baseplate, a rotary, spring-controlled disk mounted thereon having a cutter, a seal-box adapted to be secured on said base-plate and slotted to permit said cutter to protrude into the sealbox, whereby a seal may be placed in said seal-box and be impaled on said cutter, a lid for said seal-box having a tongue adapted to puncture said seal and hold it stationary, a locking device engaging said tongue, and l means carried by said disk for engaging the locking device and unlocking said lid when said disk is rotated.

3. In a seal-lock, in combination with a sealbox having a movable cutter Working therein, a label having a head adapted to be inserted in said seal-box and provided with a slot to receive, and permit unobstructed movement of said cutter, whereby a seal may be placed in said seal-box over said head and be impaled on said cutter.

4.. Ina seal-lock, in combination wit-hasealbox having a movable cutter Working therein and provided with a lid having a tongue adapted to puncture a seal placed in said seal-box, a reversible label having a head adapted to be inserted in said seal-box and provided with a slot to receive, and permit unobstructed movement of, said cutter and on opposite sides with apertures through one or the other of which said tongue may pass.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witncsses.

JULIUS PAUL KERNBAUM.

Witnesses:

G. G. TAvIs, B. M. LOWE. 

